Fruit-parer.



W. S. DIXON.

FRUIT PABEB.

APPLICATION FILED MAR. 11, 1 09.

989,896. 9 Patented Apr. 18, 19911.

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WARNER S. DIXON, OF RICHMOND DALE, OHIO.

FRUIT-PAREB.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Apr. 18, 1911.

Application filed. March 11, 1909. Serial No. 482,689.

' the following is a specification.

This invention relates to fruit parers and more particularly to parers adapted for paring peaches and apples, the object being to provide a parer with very novel means for holding the fruit in a firm position whereby the knife operating on the same will not injure it in any way.

A still further object of my invention is to provide a peculiar construction of knife which is adapted to be held at an angle of about ninety degrees in respect to the forks for holding the fruit whereby the knife will remove the skin from the fruit.

A still further object of my invention is to provide novel means for removing the fruit from the holding fork after the opera tion of paring the same has been completed, said means being automatic and provided with a pivoted pushing member at its lower end adapted to adjust itself in respect to the fruit upon the fork so that a direct push will be obtained whereby all danger of the fruit becoming injured in being pushed off is revented.

further object of my invention is to provide novel means for operating the forks and knife carrying gear which is exceedingly simple and cheap in construction and so arranged and mounted that all danger of the parts becoming loose is prevented.

A still further object of the invention is to provide a fork which comprises four prongs independently mounted upon a shaft and held by springs whereby the forks will adjust themselves to the size of the stone of the peach and hold the same firmly thereon thereby overcoming the difficulties now existing with parers of this character as the forks allow the fruit to move to a certain extent which causes the same to become bruised or injured when the knife is operating upon the same.

A still further object of the invention is to provide a fixed knife in connection with the paring form whereby the fruit held thereon will be pared adjacent the inner end of the fork where it is impossible to reach the same with a movable knife.

With these objects in view, my invention consists of the novel features of construction, combination and arrangement of parts hereinafter described, pointed out in the claims and shown in the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of my improved fruit parer. Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the holding fork. Fig. 3 is a section through the same. Fig. 4c is a detail view of the pushing member and, Fig. 5 is a detail.

view of the knife carrying member showing how the same is mounted.

In carrying out my improved invention, I employ a frame A which is provided with clamping means at its lower end for securing the same to a table and has an upwardly extending portion which is provided with laterally projecting portions A and A provided with bearings and mounted within the bearing of the portion A is a horizontal shaft B carrying a pinion B at one end which meshes with a horizontal gear C carried by a vertical shaft C which is mounted within the bearing of the portion A of the frame, said gear being inclosed by a cap D. The shaft B is provided with a gear B at its opposite end which meshes with a gear E carried by a gear F mounted on a shaft G within the frame, said gear being provided with an internally toothed gear portion F which meshes with a pinion H carried by a shaft H" mounted in bearings formed in the laterally projecting portion A of the frame A. The gear F is provided with a crank handle F for operating the same and it will be seen that when the gear is rotated the shafts will be rotated as will be hereinafter fully described.

Secured on the end of the portion A is a knife J adapted to be held at an angle as clearly shown in respect to the fruit which is held in position by pivoted prongs K on a fork K each of said prongs K being pivotally mounted upon the shaft H as clearly shown and the prongs extend rearwardly from their journals and have springs K connected thereto which bear against the shaft H for normally holding the prongs in the correct position and it will be seen that as the fruit is forced on the fork the prongs will spread so as to allow the same to fit over diiferent sized stones and it will be seen that as the fruit is placed on the fork the prongs are spread apart against the tension of the springs which will force the prongs against the stone so that all danger of the fruit moving in any manner is prevented. I have shown this construction of fork which is especially adapted to be used for paring peaches but it is of course understood that when an apple or any other fruit is forced upon the same it will be normally held thereon.

The gear C is provided with lugs on its under face on which is pivotally mounted a spring shaft L carrying an arm M which is normally held at an angle of forty-five degrees in respect to the fork, said arm being provided with an adjustable curved cutting blade N at its lower end which is adapted to travel around the fruit when arranged upon the forks and it will be seen that by having the blade normally held at an angle of fortyfive degrees the slicing action of the blade is such as to cause the skin to be removed without injuring the fruit in any way. It will also be seen that as this knife travels around the fruit the fruit is also revolving so that every particle of the skin of the fruit will be removed as what the movable knife is not able to reach the fixed knife carried by the portion A of the frame removes.

In connection with this device I employ means for removing the fruit from the prongs of the fork after the fruit has been pared, which comprises a pivoted arm P mounted on the frame as clearly shown and provided with an angled lower end to which is pivotally connected a pushing member Q and is provided with guide lugs Q. adapted to work in slots formed in the angled lower end whereby the pushing member Q, will adjust itself in respect to the fruit upon the fork so that when the same is operated the fruit will be pushed from the fork in a straight line so as to prevent the fruit from being injured any more than it is actually necessary. The operated end of the arm P is provided with an angled end P adapted to extend inwardly as clearly shown in the path of the arm M so that as the arm is rotated it will be brought into engagement with the angled end P of the pushing member so as to force the same outwardly which will force the pushing member proper outwardly along the side of the fork so as to remove the fruit therefrom.

It will be seen that the pusher is not operated until the knife has made a complete revolution and it will be seen that the device is so geared that the fruit makes four or five revolutions to every one of the knife whereby the skin is thoroughly removed.

From the foregoing description it will be seen that I have provided a fruit parer with very novel means for holding the fruit and a knife for removing the skin therefrom said means being so mounted and connected that a peach can be placed on the same and the skin thoroughly removed without injuring the same in any way and at the same time at the end of the operation the peach will be pushed off of the fork so that another one can be readily placed thereon.

lVhat I claim is 1. In a fruit parer, the combination with a frame, of a revoluble shaft mounted in said frame carrying a fork provided with spring actuated arms, a revoluble knife carrying member mounted above said fork, a pivoted arm mounted on said frame having angled ends, a pivoted pusher mounted on the lower angled end of said arm, the upper end of said arm being engaged by said knife for swinging said arm.

2. The combination with a frame, of a horizontal shaft mounted in said frame oarrying a supporting fork, a revoluble knife mounted above said fork, a pivoted arm carried by said frame having an angled upper end adapted to be engaged by said knife, said arm being provided with a bifurcated lower end, the walls of said bifurcation being slotted, a pusher pivotally mounted by said bifurcation, having pins extending into said slot.

3. In a fruit paring machine, the combination with a support, of a shaft revolubly mounted in said support carrying a fork, a revoluble knife mounted above said fork, means for revolving said knife, an arm pivotally mounted on said support having an angled lower end extending out along the side of said fork, a pusher pivotally mounted 011 the end of said arm, said arm being provided with an angled upper end, adapted to be engaged by said knife for swinging said arm, so as to cause said pusher to engage the fruit on said fork.

a. A fruit parer comprising a frame, horizontal shafts mounted in said frame provided with gears at their outer ends a gearwheel mounted in said frame provided with gears for meshing with gears of the horizontal shafts, a fork fixed on the lower horizontal shaft provided with spring actuated prongs, the pinion fixed on the upper horizontal shaft, a vertical shaft mounted in said frame carrying a gear meshing with said pinion, a spring actuated knife carrying arm carried by said gear, a curved knife carried by said arm and a pivoted pushing member mounted on the frame operated by said knife carrying arm.

WARNER S. DIXON.

Witnesses:

RoY GHENAULT, Roscon DIXON.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents,

' Washington, D. C. i 

